What Are the Best Games to Play on the Nintendo Switch?

Now that the Nintendo Switch is finally in the hands of Nintendo fans worldwide, gamers may be wondering which of the 12 launch games to pick up. The games in the console’s launch lineup represent a variety of different gaming experiences, ranging from a futuristic racer to a JRPG throwback, so there’s a little something for everyone in its early days, despite the low number of launch titles.

While it’s true that there’s not much to choose from in the console’s current lineup of games, there are five titles that are early essentials for anyone’s Switch library. For early Nintendo Switch adopters, we recommend picking up the five following games to make the wait for more Switch games go by a bit faster.

Fast RMX

There may or may not be a new F-Zero game in the works at Nintendo, but in the meantime, Fast RMX is looking to fill the super-fast, futuristic racing void. A sequel to the well-received Wii U exclusive Fast Racing Neo, Fast RMX boasts a meaty campaign and supports almost all of the different controller options available for the Switch. It’s also one of the few games in the launch lineup that supports online multiplayer, and if that weren’t enough, it also features 4-player split-screen, with reports indicating that it can maintain its blistering 60 frames per second even with four people playing at once.

I Am Setsuna

For fans of classic Japanese role-playing games, I Am Setsuna is a must-have in their Nintendo Switch library. Paying tribute to classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, I Am Setsuna is an artsy throwback to SNES-era RPGs. In our I Am Setsuna review, we praised the game for its sharp visuals, brilliant music score, and polished gameplay.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove

Added to the Nintendo Switch launch lineup at the last minute, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is arguably the second best game available on the system right now, right behind The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove collects all previous Shovel Knight campaigns in one package, and gives Switch owners timed-exclusivity to the new campaign, Specter of Torment. With the promise of even more content for Treasure Trove owners down the road, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove will offer fans of the franchise the biggest bang for their buck.

Snipperclips

Snipperclips may not be the most technologically impressive game available in the Nintendo Switch’s launch lineup, but it’s certainly one of the most fun. Snipperclips is one of the Switch’s many indie games, albeit published by Nintendo itself, with a focus on local co-op gameplay. In Snipperclips, each player uses one Joy-Con to control anthropomorphic pieces of paper that can cut into each other to solve a variety of puzzles. With no shortage of challenging puzzles and laughs to be had, Snipperclips is a hidden gem in the Switch’s launch lineup.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

It may go without saying, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the biggest reason to own a Nintendo Switch right now. Breath of the Wild has earned perfect scores across the board, and at the time of this writing, is one of the highest-rated video game made to date. Link’s open-world adventure has been hailed as a revolutionary step forward not only for the franchise, but for the genre as a whole. Simply put, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is essential for every Nintendo Switch owner.

Nintendo Switch may not have launched with a ton of games, but these five titles should be enough to keep any gamer busy until the console receives more quality software. This year alone will see Nintendo bolster the Nintendo Switch’s library with a number of exciting first-party games that are brimming with potential, including the innovative fighting game ARMS and the multiplayer-centric Splatoon 2. Super Mario Odyssey, due for release this holiday season, could even give The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild a run for its money as the highest-rated game made to date, if the review aggregate scores of past Super Mario games are any indication.

Beyond first-party releases, the Nintendo Switch also has some third-party support to look forward to as well, with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim arguably the most notable third-party release on the horizon. Between its third-party support and major first-party releases in development, Nintendo Switch owners have plenty of games to be excited about in the coming months.